For the birds.

I am no bird fan. Birds scare me more than large cats (think lions). It could be because I can close my eyes and still see scenes from The Birds (Alfred Hitchcock) that my older brother made me watch when I was little. Something about their claws and beaks scare me, no matter how little the bird is.

About a week after I met Mr. TPG for the first time, we were both sent to the same conference in South Africa. As we explored the conference center grounds, we walked through a field with tall grass on both sides of us. This is where our stories diverge. I remember birds started squawking, then suddenly starting swooping down towards our heads -- without actually attacking -- as if to send a warning. I squeezed up next to Mr. TPG (his head was closer to those swooping beaks, so they would get him first) before taking off in a sprint away from those fields, where the birds were probably nesting. Mr. TPG remembers a peaceful stroll, some birds, and me completely freaking out. I guess we will never know what the birds truly intended.

But since we moved to Carson, I've been noticing a small bird with yellow features all around town. I'm not a bird watcher (I shudder at the thought...again, they scare me) but from the safety of my car those birds look pretty sweet.

I'm thinking they could be one of three things:

1. Yellow Warbler

2. Yellow-breasted Chat

3. Common Yellowthroat

I guess I'll have to try to snap a picture, or ask someone local what they are. And then, I will avoid getting too close!